Released July 13, 1964 Length 1:52 Writer(s) Brian Wilson/Mike Love | Genre Surf rock Label Capitol Records | |
Recorded October 18, 1963 / April 2–May 19, 1964,
Western Studios | ||
"Don't Back Down" is a song written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love for the American rock band The Beach Boys. It was released on their 1964 album All Summer Long as well as on their EP, Four.
Contents
Background
The subject matter of this song is surfing; this would be the group's last surfing-themed song until 1968's "Do It Again". In the lyrics, the surfers would try to impress the girls by not backing down from the waves.
"Don't Back Down" has appeared on numerous compilation albums, including Spirit of America (the sequel to the band's infamous compilation album Endless Summer,) Good Vibrations: Thirty Years of The Beach Boys, The Capitol Years, and Made in California. An alternate take of this song is found on the Little Deuce Coupe/All Summer Long CD.
Critical opinion
AllMusic critic Richie Unterberger called the track a "relatively little-known treasure" and praised it for its "uncommonly anxious lyrics." Writer Andrew Hickey called the song "one of [All Summer Long's] best tracks." Author Philip Lambert said that "'Don't Back Down' positively explodes with surfing energy and vitality."
Personnel
Per Craig Slownski.
The Queers version
The song was covered by the punk rock band The Queers on their album Don't Back Down.